Meaning more than turtles

Huntsville Forester

This is a sign of positive change.
The Ministry of Transportation will spend millions to ensure wildlife can pass beneath our highways as they expand and rebuild Highway 69.
It’s an expense that humanity might be able to survive without. Turtles and snakes, for example, don’t devastate cars. But much of the investment, as well as money spent on snake-proof fencing, is for the sake of our dwindling and endangered wildlife.
There was a time when we would not have considered multi-million-dollar additions to infrastructure projects for the sake of a snake, a turtle, or even a fawn. That was a regrettable time. We’re still mourning the losses that have resulted. We’re still in the midst of a few near misses as species struggle for survival.
We have a long way to go, but Canadian society is reaching a point where it no longer takes wildlife for granted. As individuals, we’re stopping to help slow-moving turtles cross the road, and now swerve our lawn mowers around wandering snakes. And better yet, massive projects that transform an environment are given a first, second and third thought. If they proceed, they do so with extra measures to mitigate damage.
We’ve done a lot of damage, polluted water, air, soil and endangered or eliminated entire species. But, however slowly, there are indications we are learning from our mistakes. There are indications we’ve realized, at least to some degree, that we need to spend more, suffer the inconveniences to protect the wildlife whose natural territory we infringe upon.
Ecopasses under our new highways are a reassuring sign that humanity, at least in this country, is learning something about the value of the environment around us.